I read this book when I was in seventh grade and never actually finished the series because I couldn’t find the last book anywhere for the life of me! But after I found all three books on Thriftbooks, I knew I had to relive Eve’s world and her character. 

There’s much room for improvement when it comes to Anna Carey’s writing style. If middle-schoolers were her intended audience, then I can totally see why the story is written as simple as it is. But the characters are 18-years-old, or even older, and talk about politics and government. So I have to assume Eve was meant for teenagers who are at least 16-years-old.

Eve, for someone who is about to graduate, is very dumb. There, I said it! She can speak multiple languages, analyze literature, and play the piano but then, for some reason, she can’t even comprehend how messed up her own government is. I mean, the girl is literally valedictorian. I’m barely passing my math class and I know how messed up politics can be! But, I do have to admit that we see a lot of character development in her. I would argue that her character development came on too fast, though.

That’s one of the issues I had with Anna Carey’s writing style. It’s fast-paced, and I can barely even comprehend a character development or plot twist before it ends. And the biggest problem that comes with that is the relationship. I like a book that has a good romance. I prefer enemies-to-lovers, one that’s a slow-burn and passionate. What Caleb and Eve had had potential for all of that, but we still ended up reading about Eve’s romantic thoughts barely 100 pages into the book. I don’t know about anybody else, but it’s kind of a turn off. Yeah, I’ll be frustrated that the characters won’t realize they love each other until the last thirty pages of the book, but give it to me anyways! It’s what we want!!

I do have to admit that I started falling in love with Caleb all the same. We love a man who can sacrifice for the people he loves!! Caleb, he just doesn’t miss. It’s like he’s TOO perfect! 

“In School and out of School, I had believed that love was a liability — something that could be wielded against you. I began to weep, finally knowing the truth: love was death’s only adversary, the only thing powerful enough to combat its clawing, desperate grasp.”

I still think the book needs some improvement, but I still loved it and am excited to start the second book. This is a good book (definitely a one-sitter if you’re not as busy as me), and I assure you that you will not want to stop turning page after page! Character development, pace, and plot need some work but it’s still an exciting story!